Have to admit - SO DISAPPOINTING! It was tough to get through with all the bouncing around, and truth be told, the book could have summed itself up in about six chapters. And what was up with that ending...?

Hm. It was a little slow and going through it until right at the end, and then you're left with the 'what the ...?' feeling at the end. If the rest of the book was as quick a read as the end, it would have made for a better read. But then again, the detail added to being more shocked in the end.

I have a rule; if I'm not interested within 50 pages, it's not worth finishing (I read too much for work as it is - the novel must intrigue me). I read to page 129 thinking this book would EVENTUALLY pick up. It didn't. Skipped to the last five pages and guess what ... didn't miss much of anything. Felt like a long boring sitcom that I could catch up on even if I skipped the past three episodes. Not sure I'll read Best Friends, but people do say that was the better of her two books ... we'll see.

Based on a friend's advice, I finally read this - took it on our honeymoon to read while on the beach. The first chapter was still tough (this was my fourth time picking up the book), but I drew a family chart on the back cover and it helped me get through it. It also helped to have concentrated quiet time to get through the detail in the book - not only were the characters detailed, the plot was as well, and it went back and forth from time to time. It still took me some time to get through it, and I wondered throughout what made this book so special ... then you get closer to the end and it all comes together. Well worth putting the time in.

This was a great book. The other reviews are correct that the first 150 pages or so are the best. The story does drag on a bit beyond that, and you begin to wonder what's the point. But it all works itself out in the end. Interesting twist toward the end which I didn't expect. At first thought the twist was a little off-the-wall compared to the rest of the story ... but the ending pulled it all back. Would definitely recommend to others.